Winter is coming, and it's bringing the 57th annual Grammys with it.
Sorry for the dramatics. Winter is obviously already here, and though the nasty weather is sort of a buzzkill, at least we get to enjoy some of the best televised events of the year during this season. We had the Super Bowl XLIX last week, the 87th annual Academy Awards will air on Feb. 22, and in between, we've got the Grammys, of course.
Music's biggest night is bringing it this year with its performances. This year's lineup seems to include more duets and group performances than ever with Sam Smith set to croon with Mary J. Blige, Jessie J singing with Tom Jones and Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney sure to bring their new single "FourFiveSeconds" to the stage.
We all watch the Grammys for the performances, and as corny as it sounds, the ability to see music stars collide in this way really is a beautiful thing. In fact, this is pretty much what the Grammys are all about. The music awards show has been churning out memorable duets and group performances for years. Here are the eight best.
1. Eminem and Elton John - "Stan" (2001)
In what was one of the most controversial performances in Grammys history, Eminem got some help from Elton John to perform his hit song "Stan." Leading up to the performance, many protested and criticized the performance due to the violent, misogynistic and homophobic content in Eminem's lyrics. John's involvement in the duet obviously also raised some eyebrows because of that. However, the show went on, and Eminem and John both gave a memorable and triumphant performance. They even hugged and held hands at the end, showing that freedom of expression, no matter which way you lean, was alive and well.
2. Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl and Steven Va Zandt - "London Calling" (2003)
The frontman of the iconic punk band The Clash, Joe Strummer, passed away in December of 2002, and the Grammys paid tribute to him shortly after with this all-star performance of "London Calling." You'll be hard-pressed to find a better performance of this classic, unless it's by The Clash itself.
3. Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone - Tribute to Janis Joplin (2005)
No one has been able to replace Janis Joplin in music since her death in 1970. However, Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone come close to capturing her gritty soulfulness. So to bring these two powerhouse singers in together to perform "Cry Baby" and "Piece of My Heart" was simply perfection. Plus, the fact that Etheridge performed after having just completed chemotherapy for breast cancer in all her glory will make you choke up a little.
4. Kanye West and Daft Punk - "Stronger" (2008)
Kanye West's hit collaboration with Daft Punk, "Stronger," is amazing, so why wouldn't their performance at the 2008 Grammys be equally awesome? With lots of special effects and West's famous shutter shades glowing in the dark, it definitely made us all feel stronger.
5. Beyonce and Tina Turner - "Proud Mary" (2008)
We all obviously love Queen Bey, but her performance with Tina Turner at the 2008 Grammys reminded us where Beyonce got a lot of her showmanship from. Beyonce and Turner performed "Proud Mary," complete with all of Turner's legendary dance moves. Turner still had the singing and dancing chops to rival Beyonce, some 40 years her junior. Watch this performance, and you'll soon be saying, "All hail Queen T."
6. T.I., Kanye West, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and M.I.A. – "Swagger Like Us" (2009)
This lineup of some of the biggest names in rap today turned the Grammys into a full-blown party. Plus, M.I.A. looked amazing in her outfit, which emphasized every bit of her pregnant body.
7. Yolanda Adams, Martina McBride, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch - Tribute to Aretha Franklin (2011)
You can't top Aretha Franklin, but these ladies tried and almost succeeded. Hearing each singer give her own spin on Franklin's classics — from Yolanda Adams' gospel to Martina McBride's country to Florence Welch's rock — was incredibly cool. They did Franklin proud.
8. Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar - "Radioactive" and "m.A.A.d City" (2014)
Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar's mashup of their respective songs was the highlight of last year's Grammys and one of the best performances to come out of the awards show in a long time. They put a fresh twist on hit songs we already loved, and when cannons starting hurling dye at the performers, all you could be was wowed. The performance even had Taylor Swift up on her feet dancing. I think that means it was a success.
